Common Injuries to Pedestrians

Accidents involving pedestrians cause many fatal and non-fatal injuries that negatively change survivors’ lives. Learn about the most common injuries and how a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer can help you recover following this type of accident.

Annually, thousands of pedestrians suffer different deadly and non-deadly injuries due to traffic accidents. These injuries are usually preventable, and victims can seek just compensation by enlisting the help of a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer. Keep reading to learn about common pedestrian injuries and ways to stay safe whenever possible.

Common Types of Pedestrian Injuries

Pedestrian injuries come in different forms, and some common injuries include:

• Soft Tissue Damage – Accidents can injure a pedestrian’s ligaments, tendons, and muscles, resulting in tears, sprains, strains, and lacerations. These injuries are painful and may subject survivors to long-term health complications.
• Broken/Fractured Bones – Broken or fractured bones are another common form of injury pedestrians sustain. They can suffer these injuries in their arms, legs, shoulders, backs, hips, wrists, and more. Some fractures are so severe that they can puncture through the skin and require one or more surgical procedures.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries – A surviving pedestrian may also suffer traumatic brain injuries. Some can be so severe that they alter one’s life permanently. A pedestrian suffering from a TBI can experience a wide range of symptoms, including physical, cognitive, and behavioral impairments. Severe brain injuries can leave a victim unconscious and in the ICU.
• Spinal Cord Injuries – Pedestrians can also sustain back trauma that leads to spinal cord injuries. This type of injury requires extensive medical care, and complete spinal injuries will leave a victim permanently paralyzed.

No matter what type of injuries you sustained when getting hit by a car while walking, you should get the immediate medical help you need.

Important Stats on Pedestrian Injuries

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 5,977 pedestrians died from injuries in traffic crashes in 2019. That figure amounts to one death every 88 minutes. Another 137,000 pedestrians received emergency injury treatment the same year. Here are other important stats from the CDC:

• A pedestrian is 1.5 times more likely to die in an accident than a vehicle occupant.
• Most pedestrian crashes happen in cities.
• 75% of all pedestrian deaths happen outside intersections.
• A pedestrian is injured every 8 minutes.
• More male pedestrians are injured than their female counterparts.
• Most pedestrian accidents occur between sunset and midnight.

Tips for Preventing Pedestrian Injuries

While you can never control the negligent actions of drivers, you can take caution while walking in an attempt to keep yourself safe, including:

• Always yield to drivers;
• Never jog or walk in the wrong direction;
• Never push disabled cars;
• Don’t stand between parked vehicles;
• Don’t stand in the road;
• Avoid entering or staying on railroad crossings or bridges after signals are given;
• Always use available sidewalks;
• Always cross roads at right angles;
• Avoid all forms of distractions when crossing or walking on the road;
• At night, always use a flashlight to increase your visibility if you don’t have reflective clothing.

Call a Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyer Today

At Breeden Malpractice & Injury Law, we hope that you avoid pedestrian injuries altogether. But if you already sustained injuries in this type of accident, don’t hesitate to contact our Las Vegas personal injury lawyer to help you obtain fair compensation for your losses. Contact us today for a free consultation.